Review: Joel Edgerton’s film Felony

REVIEW: Joel Edgerton’s latest film Felony is a gripping piece of storytelling that pays punishing dividends for him and its stars.

IN Felony we have a solid Australian drama that poses a difficult ethical question, and doesn’t shirk the hard yards it will have to cover to find an answer. 

Is anyone truly safe when a protector is a protected species?

Don’t go asking Malcolm Toohey (Edgerton). This decorated Sydney plainclothes detective embodies a problem that may already be beyond a solution.

Late one night after celebrating the completion of a dangerous drug bust (and discovering his bulletproof vest is in full working order), Malcolm is pulled over in his car by some of his uniformed counterparts. 

They come at him with a breathalyser. Malcolm, who has had more than a few drinks, responds with a designated code word. He is waved on his way. 

FELONY STAR ON THE COST OF PIRACY

JOEL EDGERTON ON WHY HE FEELS LIKE AN IMPOSTER

Back on home soil ... Joel Edgerton in a scene from the Australian film Felony.

Minutes later, a 9-year-old boy is lying unconscious in the middle of the road. He has been knocked off his bike. Guess who is responsible? 

To his credit, Malcolm doesn’t drive off. To his discredit, Malcolm doesn’t own up. 

On the advice of a fellow detective who is one of the first on the scene, Carl Summer (Tom Wilkinson), Malcolm concocts an alibi about another vehicle speeding off after hitting the child. 

Once again, he is waved on his way. 

The damaging ripple effect of this fateful incident continues to widen in diameter throughout Felony. 

Holding secrets ... Joel Edgerton and Melissa George in a scene from Felony.

Malcolm discovers getting away with it isn’t about to get him any sense of relief. He tells his wife (Melissa George) of his dilemma, and considers coming clean. Summer, however, has good reason to keep Malcolm’s dirty little hush-up in place. 

A third member of their unit, Jim Melic (Jai Courtney), can sense something is up with the original finding handed down in the hit-run investigation. But as a relative rookie, he can’t see that an old stager like Summer is blocking a clear perspective of the case. 

Action-packed ... Joel Edgerton, Jai Courtney and Tom Wilkinson in a scene from Felony.

As scripted by Edgerton (his first since 2008’s under-rated thriller The Square), Felony is a gripping piece of storytelling. 

The film’s stubborn ambition to take the time to get inside the heads of its protagonists does sometimes squander some hard-earned dramatic momentum. 

Nevertheless, the sheer perseverance of all involved (including director Matthew Saville, whose work is superb here) pays one hell of a positive (if punishing) dividend.

Director:Matthew Saville (Noise)

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Wilkinson, Jai Courtney, Melissa George.

3.5 stars

Originally published as Review: Joel Edgerton’s film Felony